Business Exit Planning

Selling a Marine Service Stations Business

Don't believe anyone who tells you it's easy to sell a marine service stations business. A lot of things need to happen before you can successfully exit your business. Good advice can be hard to come by, so we've put together a few proven suggestions to help you see your sale through to a profitable conclusion.

Business-for-sale markets are less dependent on economic conditions than most sellers think they are.

At Gaebler, we're seeing marine service stations business sellers succeed by applying sound sales principles combined with a refusal to be intimidated by a down economy.

Leveraging Seller Concessions

In the current marketplace, seller concessions can make the difference between a business sale and a marine service stations business that languishes on the market for months or even years. The most common seller concession is seller financing. Capital is scarce, causing new entrepreneurs to rely on sellers to finance at least part of the purchase price. If you are unwilling or unable to offer financing, be prepared to offer other types of concessions to close the deal.

Advertising Your Sale

Successful marine service stations business sales incorporate comprehensive advertising plans. But confidentiality issues are a hurdle you'll need to address before you put your marine service stations business on the market. If sale information leaks out, competitors can use it to steal customers and circulate negative messages about your business throughout the industry. Business brokers are skilled at publicizing marine service stations business sales while maintaining the confidentiality that is critical to your business.

Working with Appraisers

Next to your broker, a skilled appraiser is the person most capable of adding value to the price of your marine service stations business. Leading industry appraisers equip sellers with a value gauge that can be accessed during negotiations. If you're disappointed with the appraiser's estimate of your company's worth, you have the option of seeking a second opinion. However, it's more often the case that you will need to adjust your expectations of your business's value to buyers.

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